BRATTLEBORO — Thank you, Brattleboro! Thank you for supporting the “We Celebrate Democracy/Civil Rights For All” street banner now flying over Main Street in Brattleboro. Thank you for supporting the very sweet Candlelight Vigil For Democracy at Pliny Park in Brattleboro, which 50 some people attended last Sunday.
Thanks to 80 donors, including 25 Brattleboro businesses, who contributed $1,710. Overfunding of $93 will be donated to Brattleboro Area Hospice. Thanks to Ann Brush of Starksboro for making our beautiful banner. Thanks to the people who came to the banner unveiling at the post office on April 14, and to the candlelight vigil. Being there, speaking out, and speaking up publicly in opposition to the fascist takeover of our country and the world is so important.
We do not accept hate and bullying as the way to run the world. We do not accept fascism as an appropriate form of government. We are totally opposed to control of the people, the government, the environment, the marketplace, the media, by the ultra-rich and their handmaidens.
“Democracy” means “people power.” not “corporate money power.” We say profit does not measure our success as a society. Happiness is the true measure of our success.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, working for civil rights since 1971 in Montgomery, Alabama, has this to say about fighting tyranny, hate, and racism: Love is the only way to fight hate. Take a look at the organization's publication “Ten Ways to Fight Hate.”
The We Celebrate Democracy banner is a traveling banner. We hope it will travel to many more towns in Vermont and beyond, bringing its message that democracy is civil rights, and civil rights is love. The banner will live on!
We are planning to make a “pro-democracy postcard” from a wonderful unveiling picture taken of the banner in front of the post office. The unveiling will live on!
Maria Dominguez of BCTV filmed the candlelight vigil. The vigil will live on! Maybe it will become an institution every Sunday at sunset at Pliny Park.
With the understanding that democracy and civil rights for all people is the most exquisite expression of human love that we will ever see, it has been very gratifying to work on this project.
We can't thank you enough for your support. Thanks for helping us fight hate with love. It feels so much better than hate.